Capello May Omit Rooney for Euro 2012 Qualifier, Mirror Reports: Roundup

The following is a roundup of soccer stories from U.K. newspapers, with clickable links to the Web.

Rooney Worry

England coach Fabio Capello could drop Wayne Rooney from England’s Euro 2012 qualifier in Switzerland because of concern he’s not mentally prepared, the Daily Mirror reported.

Capello met the striker at the team hotel in Bedfordshire yesterday, after a story about Rooney’s private life appeared in a U.K. tabloid newspaper, the Mirror said. The England team is traveling to Switzerland today.

Toshack Quits

John Toshack will quit as Wales coach within the next 48 hours, the Daily Mail reported.

Wales lost 1-0 to Montenegro last week in its opening Euro 2012 qualifier, prompting a “fierce public backlash,” according to the Mail.

Toshack will recommend that Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs replaces him, the Mail added.

Houllier Decision

Gerard Houllier will decide today if he wants to lead Aston Villa, the Sun reported.

Villa hopes to appoint the former Liverpool manager today, although the club wants him to work with caretaker coach Kevin MacDonald, which may be a sticking point, the Sun said.

United Omit Bebe

Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson left Bebe and Owen Hargreaves out of his Champions League squad, the Daily Mail reported.

Ferguson says Bebe, a 7.4 million-pound ($11.4 million) signing, needs to improve his fitness level, the Mail said. Hargreaves has played one game in two years because of tendinitis problems, the newspaper said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Alex Duff in Madrid at aduff4@bloomberg.net.

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